The Black & Gold host Sporting Kansas City for their only meeting of the 2017 Major League Soccer regular-season and their 54th meeting of all time on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at MAPFRE Stadium. Crew SC currently holds a 22-25-6 record against SKC.
Here are some storylines to read up on ahead of Sunday’s match:
Playoff push
It’s crunch time in the race for playoffs and the Black & Gold are looking good with an 85 percent chance of staying above the red line — according to FiveThirtyEight.com, using forecasts and SPI ratings.
FiveThirtyEight.com provides the probability of each team reaching the 2017 postseason, using forecasts and SPI ratings, which you can read more about here. If you want to see Crew SC's odds to get a first-round bye, win Supporters' Shield or win MLS Cup, you can find it here.
After Week 26, here are FiveThirtyEight's probability percentages for the Eastern Conference's playoff picture:
Eastern Conference
- Toronto FC - >99%
- New York City FC - >99%
- Chicago Fire - 98%
- New York Red Bulls - 92%
- Atlanta United - 88%
- Columbus Crew SC - 85%
- Montreal Impact - 21%
- New England Revolution - 13%
- Philadelphia Union - 2%
- Orlando City SC - <1%
- D.C. United - <1%
With home games against Eastern Conference foes such as the New York Red Bulls on September 23 and D.C. United on September 30 leaving vital points up for grabs, Crew SC is charging closer to chasing the 2017 MLS Cup.
Columbus closes the regular season on the road at Orlando City SC on October 15 and at New York City FC on October 22.
We’re not in Kansas anymore ...
The last time the Cross-Conference foes clashed, the Black & Gold battled it out in Kansas City for what resulted in a 3-2 loss for Crew SC. However, the tables have turned this season as Crew SC hosts their Western rivals this time around. SKC has only won one of their last nine MLS regular-season road games.
Ola Kamara finished a brace in last year's match. He enters Sunday's match with an eye toward continuing his goal-scoring form — having scored five goals in his last six appearances (all starts) and three goals in his last three games at MAPFRE Stadium.
There’s no place like MAPFRE Stadium
Sunday’s match will be one of three final home matches left in the 2017 MLS regular-season. The Black & Gold have notched 10 wins at MAPFRE Stadium, the most since the 2012 season (11). They have also won the last four consecutive matches at MAPFRE Stadium, whereas SKC have only won one of their last nine MLS regular-season home games.
All eyes on Melia
Sporting Kansas City’s goalkeeper, Tim Melia, has proven to be a brute defensive force. The 31-year-old New Yorker currently leads the League with 10 shutouts. Melia is also to thank for allowing SKC to concede the fewest goals (26) in the MLS this season.
Melia had his breakout for Sporting KC in 2015, when he went 15-8-5 as their starting goalkeeper. He also made headlines when he made two huge saves in a penalty kick shootout victory over the Philadelphia Union in the 2015 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final. It was no surprise that he was later named the 2015 MLS Comeback Player of the Year.
Crew SC is hosting the second edition of Pups at the Pitch. For only $35 you and your 4-legged friend can get a General Admission ticket in the lower sideline to watch Crew SC take on Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, September 10, at 1 p.m.
Prior to Kick Off you and your dog will have access to a designated dog park at MAPFRE Stadium.
